Energy Performance Certificates
FourThis Fact sheet is up to date at January 2009
The contents of the HIP, both compulsory (Required) and voluntary (Authorised) are set out in the regulations contained in SI 2007 No 1667 as varied by a number of amending statutory instruments sets of regulations provide information about these certificates - in SI No 991 and in No 1669 passed in 2007 and SI No 647 and No 2363 passed in 2008 .
An EPC with a recommendation report is, from 1 October 2008, required for all residential properties that are physically complete before or at the FPM and that are for sale or rent.
Home Inspectors are qualified to provide the EPC and a separate qualification for Domestic Energy Assessors has been introduced for the provision of EPC’s for all homes.
The EPC comes into being by property specific data being sent to one of the authorised establishments who work out the energy efficiency of a home according to Standard Assessment Procedures (SAP).
Each home will be graded according to its energy efficiency (similar to the grades on white goods such as washing machines). The certificate will be accompanied by a recommendation report with suggestions for the improvement of the energy efficiency of the home with the consequent savings that can be made in respect of energy costs for running the home.
The EPC will be registered on a central databank.
The EU directive that brought about the legislation permits EPC’s to be valid for 10 years - an EPC of this age is acceptable for rented properties.
The age of an EPC for a home that is for sale was originally 3 months, then 12 months and has now been fixed at three years.
A property that is not physically complete before or at the FPM requires a predicted energy assessment (schedule 2 HIP Regulations).
If a pack contains a predicted energy assessment it must be prominently described as such and also contain a health warning advising buyers that it must be replaced by a full EPC and recommendation report once the property is physically complete.
The format of the EPC can be accessed on the web at www.communities.gov.uk as it appears in the Standards for Certification Schemes for Home Inspectors.
Generally, from 1 October 2008 all properties to be sold or rented will need to have a EPC so that a free copy can be provided to a potential buyer or renter before any contract or agreement for sale or rent is made.
PRIVATE SALES - Even where a sale is a private one without the involvement of an estate agent or marketing to the public with the result that a HIP is not required , a free copy of the EPC and recommendation report must be supplied to the buyer at the earliest opportunity. This should be before any information about the property is provided or any viewing takes place. The EPC and report must be supplied before entering into a contract for the sale.
ON MARKET AT COMMENCEMENT DATE EXCEPTION - For properties that have been continually marketed under the regulation 33 exception (Fact sheet 20) an EPC does not need to be provided before exchange of contracts BUT once contracts have been exchanged the EPC must be commissioned and reasonable efforts to obtain it must be taken so that a free copy can be given to the ultimate buyer as soon as possible after exchange.
A copy of the EPC or, at least, a copy of the rating must be attached to any property particulars.
